Anti-theft device for a vehicle and method for activating the anti-theft device

ABSTRACT

An anti-theft device for a vehicle with tyre wheels includes an immobilization device, at least one detection control unit, and at least one sensor. The immobilization device activates an anti-theft procedure. The at least one detection control unit is connected to the immobilization device and verifies an alarm condition. The at least one sensor is associated with one or more of the tyre wheels, communicates with the at least one detection control unit, detects movement of one or more of the tyre wheels, and detects inflation pressure of one or more of the tyre wheels. A method for activating an anti-theft device for a vehicle with tyre wheels includes detecting an alarm condition from at least one of the tyre wheels, receiving the detected condition, and activating an anti-theft procedure.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a national-phase entry under 35 U.S.C. §371 fromInternational Application No. PCT/EP01/13666, filed Nov. 23, 2001, inthe European Patent Office, the contents of which are relied upon andincorporated herein by reference; additionally, Applicants claim theright of priority under 35 U.S.C. §119(a)-(d) based an patentapplication No. 00830778.7, filed Nov. 27, 2000, in the European PatentOffice, and patent application No. 01115912.6, filed Jun. 29, 2001, inthe European Patent Office; further, Applicants claim the benefit under35 U.S.C. §119(e) based on provisional application No. 60/262,634, filedJan. 22, 2001, in the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to an anti-theft device for vehicles. Inparticular, the present invention relates to an anti-theft device forvehicles provided with tyres and a method for activating the anti-theftdevice.

2. Description of the Related Art

It is known, according to the state of the art, that most anti-theftdevices are installed inside the car and are based on varyingly improvedtechniques in which perimeter-defense sensors of various types are used,said sensors being often associated with a control system based on therecognition of coded keys necessary for activation/deactivation of theanti-theft device itself. These keys transmit, via radio, a cede to saidcontrol system, using suitably reserved frequency ranges.

For example, U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,194,997 and 4,805,723 describe anti-theftdevices for motor vehicles in which a monitoring device inside thevehicle is able to detect the presence of persons inside the vehicle.This monitoring device is activated by a key which, at the same time, isable to lock the doors for access to the vehicle.

The Applicant has observed that, although very versatile and efficientand, in principle, capable of being incorporated into systems formonitoring the position of the vehicle of the GPS (Ground PositionSystem) type, the traditional anti-theft devices are often affected byfactors which reduce the degree of reliability thereof. Among these thefollowing may be mentioned:

the control units have in fact a standardized location, thereby inprinciple resulting in the possibility of their being discovered anddeactivated by criminals with a certain technical knowledge;

not all the anti-theft devices, in particular if low-cost, are able todetect any movement of the vehicle if it has been raised by a specialmechanical means; this especially if the vehicle is actually raised fromthe ground and removed without causing rolling of the wheels;

traditional anti-theft devices, if removed, do not necessarily cause anirreversible deterioration or locking of certain vital components in themechanical structure of the vehicle;

in any case, even in the most inexpensive versions; anti-theft systemsoften constitute a not negligible fraction of the cost of the vehicle;this discourages their use in many types of utility or low-powervehicles which, on the other hand, appear to be one of the preferredtargets of car thieves.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The Applicant has tackled the problem of providing a reliable anti-theftdevice in which the situation of a possible attempted theft is detectedas a result of any type of displacement of the vehicle caused by theattempted theft itself.

The Applicant has found that the displacement of a vehicle caused by anattempted theft may be effectively detected by the tyres of the vehicleitself. In particular, the Applicant has found that, by inserting asensor inside the tyres of the vehicle, which is able to detect themovement of said tyres and raising thereof from the ground (absence ofload), it is possible to determine with certainty a condition ofdisplacement of the vehicle caused by an attempted theft.

A first aspect of the present invention relates to an anti-theft devicefor vehicles provided with tyre wheels, comprising:

an immobilization device able to activate a procedure for operation ofthe anti-theft device itself,

a detection control unit connected to said immobilization device andable to verify an alarm condition,

a sensor which is associated with at least one of said tyre wheels,communicates with said control unit and is able to detect the movementand inflation pressure of at least one of said tyre wheels.

Preferably, said sensor comprises a mobile station associated with saidrim and a fixed station arranged on said vehicle and able to sendelectric energy to said mobile station during the movement of thevehicle tyre wheels.

Preferably, said mobile station comprises an accelerometric switch.

Preferably, said mobile station comprises a pressure sensor.

In particular, said mobile station comprises an electric energy storagedevice able to store the electric energy supplied by said fixed station.

In particular, said mobile station comprises a transmitter device ableto communicate, to said control unit on the vehicle, the informationdetected by said pressure sensor and said accelerometric switch.

Preferably, said electric energy is sent to said mobile station at leastonce for each revolution of said wheel.

Preferably, said fixed station comprises a support element, constrainedat one of its ends to a hub on which a rim of said tyre wheel ismounted, and an electronic board constrained to said support element.

Preferably, said fixed station comprises a fixed antenna whichcommunicates with a mobile antenna arranged on said mobile station.

In particular, said fixed antenna and said mobile antenna areinductively coupled together.

A further aspect of the present invention relates to a method foractivating an anti-theft device for a vehicle provided with tyre wheels,comprising the steps of:

detecting an alarm condition resulting from at least one of said tyrewheels,

receiving this detected condition,

activating a procedure for operation of said anti-theft device.

Preferably, said step of detecting an alarm condition comprisesdetecting the rotation or inflation pressure of at least one of saidtyre wheels.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Further characteristic features and advantages of the present inventionmay be understood in greater detail from the following description, withreference to the accompanying drawings provided solely by way of exampleand without intending to be limiting in any way, where:

FIG. 1 shows a general diagram of the anti-theft device for vehiclesaccording to the present invention;

FIG. 2 shows a cross section through a tyre mounted on its support rim,illustrating a sensor associated with this rim and comprising a mobilestation and a fixed station;

FIG. 3 shows a block diagram of the electronic circuit present insidethe fixed station shown in FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 shows in detail the component parts of the mobile station;

FIG. 5 shows a detail of the wheel according to the present invention,illustrating in particular the coupling zone between an antenna arrangedon the fixed station and an antenna arranged in the mobile station;

FIG. 6 shows a block diagram of the mobile station according to thepresent invention;

FIG. 7 shows a cross section through a tyre mounted on its support rimduring conditions of side slip, with two characteristic distancesmeasured by the sensor according to FIG. 2 being indicated; and

FIG. 8 shows a longitudinal section through a tyre mounted on itssupport rim in the braking condition, with a characteristic distancemeasured by the sensor according to FIG. 2 being shown.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENT

FIG. 1 shows an example of an anti-theft device for a vehicle accordingto the present invention. In particular, this anti-theft devicecomprises an immobilization device 2 preferably connected to an acousticalarm 3 and/or to an apparatus A associated with said vehicle and ableto transmit the alarm condition to remote control centres. Theimmobilization device may also advantageously be of the known typeassociated with a conventional anti-theft device which is commerciallyavailable.

The immobilization device is a device which locks and unlocks the doorsfor access to the vehicle and/or prevents and allows start-up of theengine and/or activation of a procedure for operation of the anti-theftdevice itself.

Preferably, this operating procedure envisages activation of thisacoustic alarm and/or locking of the vehicle access doors and/ortransmission of the alarm condition, via the apparatus A, to remotecontrol centres at the same time as activation of a GPS receiver so asto be able to transmit the position of the vehicle to this remotecontrol centre.

The anti-theft device comprises, moreover, a control unit 4 providedwith a receiver which communicates with at least one sensor associatedwith at least one tyre of the vehicle and is able to verify an alarmcondition.

Preferably, the anti-theft device comprises a sensor associated witheach tyre of the vehicle. The example according to FIG. 1 showsschematically a vehicle 1 provided with four tyre wheels 61, 62, 63 and64; a sensor 51, 52, 53 and 54 is present in each of said tyre wheels.The control unit 4 is preferably able to detect the condition of anattempted theft on the basis of the signals received from at least oneof the sensors associated with the tyres.

This immobilization device operates advantageously with the aid of acoded key, which is preferably of the rolling-code type. This type ofkey comprises an identification code which, once recognized by saidimmobilization device, allows switching-on or switching-off of theanti-theft device itself. In particular, this identification code isperiodically modified inside the key. The immobilization device is ableto determine, for example, by means of an identification algorithm,whether the identification code generated in that instant by the key isone of the codes envisaged. U.S. Pat. No. 5,973,411 describes ananti-theft device for vehicles which uses a key of the rolling-codetype. In particular, an identification code is stored in a key able toallow start-up of the vehicle engine. This identification code is readand compared with a predefined set of identification codes in order todetermine whether this code stored in the key forms part of thispredefined set. If this is the case, the vehicle engine may be startedup. The code contained in the key is updated whenever the vehicle engineis started up with one of the codes of this predefined set.

The immobilization device 2 is connected to the control unit 4 by meansof a first gate 21. This gate generates a signal which is preferably ofthe logic type, i.e. assumes Boolean values. The value of this signalresults in enabling or disabling of the control unit 4 which controlsthe sensors 51, 52, 53 and 54 mounted on the tyre rims, preventing theoccurrence of false alarms should the vehicle be moved by its legitimateowner. In particular, if the code contained in the key is recognized bythe immobilization device 2, the value of this signal is such as todisable the control unit 4.

A second gate 22 connects the control unit 4 to the immobilizationdevice. This gate generates a signal which is preferably of the logictype, i.e. assumes Boolean values. The value of this signal producessaid alarm condition detected by the control unit via the sensorsassociated with the tyres and causes, within the immobilization device,the start of the operating procedure in the manner described above.

Alternatively, the anti-theft device according to the present inventionmay comprise a control unit for each sensor present in the tyres, forexample in the case of four tyres and four sensors there may be fourcontrol units. In this way, the problems of interference between thesignals sent by the sensors are reduced since the latter operate, forexample, at different frequencies from each other. The four controlunits communicate with the immobilization device each via a logic gate,and the alarm condition detected by any one of the control units startsthe abovementioned operating procedure.

FIG. 2 shows an example of the sensor 51 or 52 or 53 or 54 of FIG. 1 inaccordance with the present invention, mounted on the support rim 65 ofa tyre (61 or 62 or 63 or 64 in FIG. 1) and associated with a vehicle.The sensor comprises a mobile station 530 which is mounted in the wallof the support rim 65 and preferably includes an emitter/receiver device11 arranged inside the cavity defined between tyre and rim, preferablyalong the centre plane of said rim.

This mobile station 530 comprises a transmitter which sends the datadetected by said emitter/receiver device 11 to a fixed station 520arranged on said vehicle. This fixed station may advantageouslycommunicate with said control unit 4 in any suitable manner, for examplevia cable or by means of radio waves.

The fixed station is preferably associated with the corresponding hub ofthe vehicle by means of suitable support devices described below.

The mobile station and fixed station communicate with each other in anysuitable manner, for example by means of magnetic coupling between thetwo stations or by means of radio waves, preferably of thehigh-frequency type.

In a preferred embodiment, the fixed station 520 comprises a supportelement 521, which is fixed at one of its ends to the hub of a wheel,and an electronic board 522 which is preferably arranged at the oppositeend of said support element and the block diagram of which isillustrated in FIG. 3.

In particular, said electronic board comprises an oscillator circuit 523which supplies a driver circuit 524 for a first antenna 525 referred tobelow as “fixed antenna”.

Said board preferably also comprises a radiofrequency receiver 526connected to said antenna and an electric demodulator device 527.

The electric energy necessary for powering said station mayadvantageously be supplied directly by the vehicle battery via asuitable driver circuit (not shown).

The mobile station 530 shown in FIG. 4 comprises the emitter/receiverdevice 11 which in turn comprises a hollow support 12 which ispreferably made of plastic and inside which an externally threaded tube13 is inserted, preferably by means of screwing. The external threading14 of the tube 13 allows both insertion of the tube itself into thesupport and fixing of the station as a whole inside the wall of thewheel support rim 65. Alternatively, the wall of the support may bethreaded both externally, for fixing of the station in the rim wall, andinternally to allow mounting of the tube 13. The main function of thesupport 12 is to form an airtight plug for closing the hole formed inthe body of the rim 65.

The tube 13 has, inserted inside it, an electronic board 15 with whichan optical beam emitter device 16, a first lens 17, an optical beamreceiver device 18 and a second lens 19 are associated.

The electronic board 15, the block diagram of which is shown in FIG. 6,also comprises a second antenna 531—referred to below as “mobileantenna” which is connected to a power supplier 532 which supplieselectric energy to the optical beam emitter device 16 and to the opticalbeam receiver device 18. The mobile station comprises, for this purpose,a driver circuit 533 for said emitter 16 and a driver circuit 535 forsaid receiver 18.

This electronic board preferably also comprises a read circuit 537 forthe signal received by said optical beam receiver 18, the output ofwhich is connected to said mobile antenna 531.

The electronic board also comprises a device for enabling the powersupply of said board. In particular, this device comprises anaccelerometric switch 538 which is sensitive to the movement of thewheel on which said mobile station is mounted. This accelerometricswitch is preferably connected downstream of said power supplier 532 sothat the electrical connection between said power supplier 532 and theoptical beam emitter device 16 is open when the wheel is not moving andclosed when the wheel is moving.

In the preferred embodiment described now, powering of said mobilestation is performed by means of magnetic coupling, i.e., the fixedantenna and mobile antenna preferably both comprise an inductivecircuit, and the signal exchanged between the two antennae is a magneticsignal. In particular, with reference to FIG. 5, the fixed antennacomprises a fixed coil 5251 supplied by a radiofrequency alternatingcurrent generated by the driver circuit and the mobile antenna comprisesa mobile coil 5311 fixed to the rim 65 of the wheel.

With each rotation of the tyre wheel, the mobile coil 5311 is located ina position facing the fixed coil 5251 and intercepts the magnetic fieldgenerated by the aforementioned coil. A corresponding electric currentis induced in the mobile coil 5311 and is stored by said power supplier532 and provides the energy necessary for operation of the mobilestation as a whole. This power supplier 532, in a known manner,preferably comprises a bridge of diodes or equivalent devices able toconvert a sinusoidal current, which is a generated whenever the fixedcoil is located in a position facing the mobile coil, into a directcurrent. The current thus obtained powers the optical beam emitterdevice and the optical beam receiver device. In particular, this currentpowers the driver devices 533 and 535.

Said mobile station also comprises an electric energy storage device 539in which electric energy is stored during periods of travel of thevehicle, in particular during rotation of the tyre. Said devicepreferably comprises an electronic driver circuit, which picks up theinduced voltage generated by said antennae, and a miniaturizedrechargeable battery 5391, or alternatively a supercapacitor, in whichthis induced voltage is stored. A pressure sensor 5392 for monitoringthe pressure of the tyres is connected to this battery. The device alsocomprises a transmitter device 5393 for communication with said controlunit 4 provided in the vehicle.

The transmitter device 5393 communicates with said control unit 4preferably by means of radio waves.

During rotation of the tyre, i.e. in the normal travel condition of thevehicle, when the anti-theft device is deactivated, thisemitter/receiver device is used to detect the deformations of thevehicle tyres during their movement.

The Applicant has filed the patent application No. WO0108908 whichdescribes a system for detecting the deformations of a tyre and whichexplains in detail the measurements which are performed inside the tyre.

FIGS. 7 and 8 illustrate the measurements performed inside the tyre bymeans of the emitter/receiver device 11.

The deformations of the tyre considered for the purposes of the presentinvention are defined as follows:

squashing (X₁): the deformation directed along a vertical axis or anaxis in any case perpendicular to the road surface;

lateral displacement or skidding or sideslip (X₂): deformation directedalong the axis of rotation of the tyre;

longitudinal slip or torsion (X₃): the deformation in thecircumferential direction or that of rolling of the tyre.

The internal surface of the tyre, in particular the so-called liner 111,co-operates with the emitter/receiver device 11 in order to determineX₁, X₂ and X₃.

In FIG. 7, the distance X₁ corresponds to the distance between thesurface of the liner 111 and the emitter/receiver device 11 in thedirection of the rolling radius of the tyre.

In FIG. 7, the distance X₂ corresponds to the displacement, in thetransverse direction, of the projection point of the emitter/receiverdevice 11 on the surface of the liner 111 with respect to the point ofintersection of the liner surface with the equatorial plane E.

In FIG. 8, the distance X₃ corresponds to the displacement, in thecircumferential direction, of the projection point of theemitter/receiver device 11 on the surface of the liner 111, along theequatorial plane, with respect to the point of the liner surface at thecentre of the contact area.

In order to measure these distances, the emitter/receiver device 11emits a signal which is reflected by the liner with a differentintensity depending on its position with respect to the sensor. Incombination with or by way of alternative to the measurement of theintensity, the reflection time of the signal may be measured. Thereflected signal received from the emitter/receiver device is suitablycoded so as to determine the value of X₁, X₂ or X₃.

Advantageously, the reflected signals may be coded in theemitter/receiver device itself. Said emitter/receiver device may emit,for example, several optical beams towards predetermined points on theliner surface.

For the purposes of the present application, the term “enable” isunderstood as meaning rendering the system capable of performingdetection. In particular, “enable” is understood as meaning connecting apower supply device to a user device, i.e., in the case in question,connecting said power supplier of said mobile station 30 or 530 to saiddriver circuits of said station.

Said enabling of the accelerometric switch is performed with movement ofthe wheel. In other words, when the anti-theft device is switched off,the driver circuits of the mobile station are active only when the wheelis moving.

For the purposes of the present application, the term “activate” isunderstood as meaning rendering detection devices operative. Inparticular “activate” is understood as supplying power to said mobilestation 30 or 530, i.e., transferring electric energy from said powersupplier to said driver devices so as to perform the predefineddetection operation. Preferably, the mobile station is activated todetect tyre deformations by the fixed station. The power supply enablingdevice checks whether the voltage induced in the mobile coil of saidmobile station is caused by an actual movement of the wheel beforeenabling powering of the optical part, in particular powering of theoptical beam emitter device.

In this way, accidental enabling of the power supply for the mobilestation, due for example to randomly induced external magnetic fields,is avoided. A further example of accidental enabling may occur duringprolonged stoppage of the vehicle for more than a predefined timeperiod; in this situation the antenna of the fixed station and theantenna of the mobile station could be located in a position facing eachother. This could cause an undesirable induced voltage in the mobilecoil, which voltage could activate the optical beam emitter andtherefore perform said measurements within the tyre in staticconditions, i.e. in conditions where the vehicle and wheels are notmoving. In static conditions the tyre deformations do not constitutesignificant data for purposes of checking the behaviour of the tyre andtherefore vehicle. When the vehicle and tyres are at a standstill, theuseful information may consist, for example, in the value of theinflation pressure or the static load acting on each tyre.

In the embodiment described above, as mentioned, the sensor comprisesboth the signal emitter element and the element for receiving thereflected signal. It is understood that these two functions may beperformed by two independent elements which are separate from each otheror by a single element which combines the two together, depending on thespecific technology used.

The signal emitted by the emitter device 11 may be chosen from a vastrange of types of signals which may be used: preferably those signals inthe form of sound waves, for example ultrasound waves, orelectromagnetic waves, which are reflected by the inner surface of thetyre, are used.

The transfer of the abovementioned measurements detected by the mobilestation during the rolling movement of the tyre may be performed bymeans of said pair of antennae. A signal corresponding to themeasurements performed is transferred from the mobile station to thefixed station and then to the vehicle in the same manner in which theelectric energy is transferred to the mobile station.

When the anti-theft device is switched on, i.e. when the vehicle is at astandstill, the accelerometric switch disables the driver circuits ofthe optical beam emitter and optical beam receiver. In this way, onlythe pressure sensor and the accelerometric switch remain enabled, saiddevices being powered by said electric energy storage device 239.

The need to provide the sensor as a whole with an independent energysupply is rendered less critical by the choice to limit, to the pressureand acceleration sensors alone, monitoring of the anomalous effects dueto an attempted theft. Since accelerometric devices and pressure sensorsmay be made using piezoelectric technology, the abovementionedelectronic driver circuit for these sensors may be designed so as tolimit operation of the circuit itself to periodic monitoring of ahigh-impedance source such as the piezoelectric sensors; activation ofthe transmission system will occur only in the case where an anomalouscondition actually occurs.

Since the energy requirements are therefore limited, the storage devicemay be realized using components able to withstand long operatingperiods, this source not being required to have the capacity to powerthe transmitter device continuously.

The anti-theft device in accordance with the present invention operatesin the following manner.

In any condition where:

a) the immobilization device 2 has not recognized the disabling actionassociated with the user possessing the key (i.e., an identificationcode), and

b) the control unit 4 has previously determined a parked state of thevehicle,

the anti-theft device connected to the tyres is active. In thiscondition the following circumstances may occur:

The vehicle is raised rigidly, causing a reduction in the load acting onall the wheels which are normally in contact with the ground. In thiscase, the four sensors (51, 52, 53 and 54) are activated and transmitthe information to the control unit 4 which is able to communicate thealarm condition to the immobilization device by means of the signalwhich is supplied to the latter by said second logic gate 22.

An individual wheel is removed. In this case the sensor of the wheelwhich is removed is activated as soon as the corresponding semi-axle israised from the ground, resulting in the same sequence of operationsdescribed in the preceding paragraph.

The vehicle is raised so that it may be towed away by means of rollingon the non-driving wheels. In this case, activation may be produced bothby the variations in pressure associated with the process of raising theforecarriage and by the accelerations resulting from rolling anddetected by the accelerometric device. Activation of the sensor alsoallows the type of event in progress to be further determined since, inthe event of this method of theft, it will subsequently be possible todetermine variations in the deformations of the tyre by means of theoptical device incorporated in the sensor itself.

The tyre is deflated as a result of an attempt to remove theemitter/receiver 11 or due to an act of vandalism; in this case theprocess of activation of the alarm is similar to that described above inthe case of removal of a single wheel.

In the case of removal of the vehicle by means of towing, theemitter/receiver device receives the energy necessary for normaloperation by means of said pair of inductive antennae, as soon as thestate of movement of the vehicle has been determined by means ofoperation of the accelerometric device. In these conditions, the opticalsensor will also be activated, making it possible to use the informationregarding the deformations of the tyres for the purpose of a furthercheck regarding the method of displacement of the vehicle. This checkmay be performed for example using a specific software inside thecontrol unit 4 described in the preceding figure.

The data supplied by the tyres and received by the control unit may alsobe used to ensure a high level of protection against false alarms, forexample, by distinguishing rapid variations (with a characteristicduration of less than one minute) from normal variations due to thenatural deflation of the tyre. It will also be possible to interpret thesign of the variations in pressure which have occurred so as to preventoperation of the device as a result of normal operating situations (forexample inflation of the tyre).

Mechanical disassembly of the sensor may also be designed so as torender this operation simple only if the person performing saidoperation possesses a special tool which can, if necessary, bepersonalized for each set of anti-theft devices. In this way, theattempted removal of the emitter/receiver device by means of forcedunscrewing of the threaded base will result in probable damage such thatthe immediate outflow of air under pressure and deflation of the tyreitself inevitably occurs, with the consequent impossibility of immediatetowing away of the vehicle.

That which has been commented and described hitherto refers to thesituation—moreover usual—where the new anti-theft device can be combinedwith a pre-existing immobilization apparatus.

As a result of radio transmission it is in fact possible to interfacethe control unit 4 on board the vehicle not only with an immobilizationdevice of the standard type, but advantageously with other types ofanti-theft devices such as, for example, solenoid valves forinterrupting the fuel supply, automatic gearbox mechanisms which areactivated electrically, etc.

The possibility of distinguishing a theft perpetrated by raising of aparked vehicle from that consisting in removal of said vehicle by abreakdown lorry or similar vehicle also means that, in association witha GPS system, it is possible to alert automatically the police divisionwhich is best suited for the action required—namely a surpriseintervention if the vehicle is at a standstill or pursuit of thecriminals if the vehicle has been towed away.

Moreover, this sensor, in a simplified embodiment, may also be devoid ofthe emitter/receiver 11 and the pair of antennae and be equipped solelywith the pressure sensor and the accelerometric device. In this case theelectric energy storage device comprises a long-life battery. In thiscase, in the condition where the anti-theft device is active, theaccelerometric switch enables measurement of the pressure sensor onlywhen there is movement of at least one of the wheels. Such a version mayadvantageously also be applied to two-wheel vehicles in which theimmobilization device triggers this operating procedure upon movement ofat least one of the wheels.

1. An anti-theft device for a vehicle with tyre wheels, comprising: animmobilization device; at least one detection control unit; and at leastone sensor; wherein the immobilization device activates an anti-theftprocedure, wherein the at least one detection control unit is connectedto the immobilization device, wherein the at least one detection controlunit verifies an alarm condition, wherein the at least one sensor isassociated with one or more of the tyre wheels; wherein the at least onesensor detects movement of the associated one or more tyre wheels,wherein the at least one sensor detects inflation pressure of theassociated one or more tyre wheels, and wherein the at least one sensorcommunicates to the at least one detection control unit if the at leastone sensor detects variation in inflation pressure of the associated oneor more tyre wheels corresponding to raising the associated one or moretyre wheels from contact with the ground.
 2. The anti-theft device ofclaim 1, wherein the at least one sensor comprises: a mobile station;and a fixed station; wherein the mobile station is associated with a rimof a respective tyre wheel, wherein the fixed station is associated withthe vehicle, and wherein the fixed station supplies electrical energy tothe mobile station during movement of the respective tyre wheel.
 3. Theanti-theft device of claim 2, wherein the mobile station comprises anaccelerometric switch.
 4. The anti-theft device of claim 2, wherein themobile station comprises a pressure sensor.
 5. The anti-theft device ofclaim 2, wherein the mobile station comprises an accelerometric switch,and wherein the mobile station further comprises a pressure sensor. 6.The anti-theft device of claim 2, wherein the mobile station comprises adevice that stores at least some of the electrical energy supplied bythe fixed station.
 7. The anti-theft device of claim 2, wherein themobile station comprises a transmitter device, wherein the transmitterdevice communicates to the at least one detection control unitinformation detected by an accelerometric switch, and wherein thetransmitter device further communicates to the at least one detectioncontrol unit information detected by a pressure sensor.
 8. Theanti-theft device of claim 2, wherein the fixed station supplieselectrical energy to the mobile station at least once for eachrevolution of the respective tyre wheel.
 9. The anti-theft device ofclaim 2, wherein the fixed station comprises: a support element; and anelectronic board; wherein the support element is disposed on a hub onwhich the rim is mounted, and wherein the electronic board is disposedon the support element.
 10. The anti-theft device of claim 2, whereinthe fixed station comprises a fixed antenna, and wherein the fixedantenna communicates with a mobile antenna of the mobile station. 11.The anti-theft device of claim 10, wherein the fixed antenna and themobile antenna are inductively coupled together.
 12. The anti-theftdevice of claim 1, wherein the variation in inflation pressurecorresponds to raising the tyre wheels on one end of the vehicle fromcontact with the ground.
 13. The anti-theft device of claim 1, whereinthe variation in inflation pressure corresponds to raising the tyrewheels on both ends of the vehicle from contact with the ground.
 14. Theanti-theft device of claim 1, wherein the immobilization deviceactivates the anti-theft procedure if: the immobilization device has notrecognized a disabling action associated with an identification code;and the at least one detection control unit has determined a parkedstate of the vehicle.
 15. A method for activating an anti-theft devicefor a vehicle with tyre wheels, comprising: detecting an alarm conditionfrom at least one of the tyre wheels; receiving the detected condition;and activating an anti-theft procedure; wherein detecting the alarmcondition comprises detecting variation in inflation pressure of the atleast one of the tyre wheels corresponding to raising the at least oneof the tyre wheels from contact with the ground.
 16. The method of claim15, wherein detecting the alarm condition further comprises detectingrotation of the at least one of the tyre wheels.
 17. The method of claim15, wherein detecting the alarm condition comprises detecting variationin inflation pressure of more than one of the tyre wheels correspondingto raising the more than one of the tyre wheels from contact with theground.
 18. The method of claim 15, wherein the variation in inflationpressure corresponds to raising the tyre wheels on one end of thevehicle from contact with the ground.
 19. The method of claim 15,wherein the variation in inflation pressure corresponds to raising thetyre wheels on both ends of the vehicle from contact with the ground.20. The method of claim 15, wherein the anti-theft procedure isactivated if: an immobilization device of the vehicle has not recognizeda disabling action associated with an identification code; and adetection control unit of the vehicle has determined a parked state ofthe vehicle.
 21. An anti-theft device for a vehicle with tyre wheels,comprising: an immobilization device; a detection control unit; and atleast one sensor; wherein the immobilization device activates ananti-theft procedure, wherein the detection control unit is connected tothe immobilization device, wherein the detection control unit verifiesan alarm condition, wherein each sensor is associated with one of thetyre wheels, wherein each sensor detects movement of the associated tyrewheel, wherein each sensor detects inflation pressure of the associatedtyre wheel, and wherein the at least one sensor communicates to thedetection control unit if the at least one sensor detects variation ininflation pressure of the associated tyre wheel corresponding to raisingthe associated tyre wheel from contact with the ground.
 22. Theanti-theft device of claim 21, wherein the at least one sensorcomprises: a mobile station; and a fixed station; wherein the mobilestation is associated with a rim of a respective tyre wheel, wherein thefixed station is associated with the vehicle, and wherein the fixedstation supplies electrical energy to the mobile station during movementof the respective tyre wheel.
 23. The anti-theft device of claim 22,wherein the mobile station comprises an accelerometric switch.
 24. Theanti-theft device of claim 22, wherein the mobile station comprises apressure sensor.
 25. The anti-theft device of claim 22, wherein themobile station comprises an accelerometric switch, and wherein themobile station further comprises a pressure sensor.
 26. The anti-theftdevice of claim 21, wherein the variation in inflation pressurecorresponds to raising the tyre wheels on one end of the vehicle fromcontact with the ground.
 27. The anti-theft device of claim 21 whereinthe variation in inflation pressure corresponds to raising the tyrewheels on both ends of the vehicle from contact with the ground.
 28. Theanti-theft device of claim 21, wherein the immobilization deviceactivates the anti-theft procedure if: the immobilization device has notrecognized a disabling action associated with an identification code;and the detection control unit has determined a parked state of thevehicle.
 29. An anti-theft device for a vehicle with tyre wheels,comprising: an immobilization device; at least one detection controlunit; and at least one sensor; wherein the immobilization deviceactivates an anti-theft procedure, wherein the at least one detectioncontrol unit is connected to the immobilization device, wherein the atleast one detection control unit verifies an alarm condition, whereineach sensor is associated with one of the tyre wheels, wherein eachsensor detects movement of the associated tyre wheel, wherein eachsensor detects inflation pressure of the associated tyre wheel, andwherein the at least one sensor communicates to the at least onedetection control unit if the at least one sensor detects variation ininflation pressure of the associated tyre wheel corresponding to raisingthe associated tyre wheel from contact with the ground.
 30. Theanti-theft device of claim 29, wherein the at least one sensorcomprises: a mobile station; and a fixed station; wherein the mobilestation is associated with a rim of a respective tyre wheel, wherein thefixed station is associated with the vehicle, and wherein the fixedstation supplies electrical energy to the mobile station during movementof the respective tyre wheel.
 31. The anti-theft device of claim 30,wherein the mobile station comprises an accelerometric switch.
 32. Theanti-theft device of claim 30, wherein the mobile station comprises apressure sensor.
 33. The anti-theft device of claim 30, wherein themobile station comprises an accelerometric switch, and wherein themobile station further comprises a pressure sensor.
 34. The anti-theftdevice of claim 29, wherein the variation in inflation pressurecorresponds to raising the tyre wheels on one end of the vehicle fromcontact with the ground.
 35. The anti-theft device of claim 29, whereinthe variation in inflation pressure corresponds to raising the tyrewheels on both ends of the vehicle from contact with the ground.
 36. Theanti-theft device of claim 29, wherein the immobilization deviceactivates the anti-theft procedure if: the immobilization device has notrecognized a disabling action associated with an identification code;and the at least one detection control unit has determined a parkedstate of the vehicle.
 37. An anti-theft device for a vehicle with tyrewheels, comprising: an immobilization device; a detection control unit;and a sensor; wherein the immobilization device activates an anti-theftprocedure, wherein the detection control unit is connected to theimmobilization device, wherein the detection control unit verifies analarm condition, wherein the sensor is associated with a respective tyrewheel, wherein the sensor detects movement of the respective tyre wheel,wherein the sensor detects inflation pressure of the respective tyrewheel, and wherein the sensor communicates to the detection control unitif the sensor detects variation in inflation pressure of the respectivetyre wheel corresponding to raising the respective tyre wheel fromcontact with the ground.
 38. The anti-theft device of claim 37, whereinthe sensor comprises: a mobile station; and a fixed station; wherein themobile station is associated with a rim of the respective tyre wheel,wherein the fixed station is associated with the vehicle, and whereinthe fixed station supplies electrical energy to the mobile stationduring movement of the respective tyre wheel.
 39. The anti-theft deviceof claim 38, wherein the mobile station comprises an accelerometricswitch.
 40. The anti-theft device of claim 38, wherein the mobilestation comprises a pressure sensor.
 41. The anti-theft device of claim38, wherein the mobile station comprises an accelerometric switch, andwherein the mobile station further comprises a pressure sensor.
 42. Theanti-theft device of claim 37, wherein the variation in inflationpressure corresponds to raising the tyre wheels on one end of thevehicle from contact with the ground.
 43. The anti-theft device of claim37, wherein the variation in inflation pressure corresponds to raisingthe tyre wheels on both ends of the vehicle from contact with theground.
 44. The anti-theft device of claim 37, wherein theimmobilization device activates the anti-theft procedure if: theimmobilization device has not recognized a disabling action associatedwith an identification code; and the detection control unit hasdetermined a parked state of the vehicle.